CycleItalia Cortina Loop

With Stage 17, 23 May 2012, of the Giro d'Italia finishing in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Larry and Heather from CycleItalia have been nice enough to share one of their favorite loops starting in Cortina. As a reminder to ICJ readers: ride stories are always welcome, share your story.

CycleItalia Cortina Loop

"Here’s a challenging loop from Cortina we’ve used in the past as part of our Legendary Climbs Series.

Visit Cicli Cortina for low gears if you’ve not fitted them already. Our rental machines feature 30-26 or 34-29 and we think it’s better to have gears lower than you need rather than vice-versa, especially at the end of the day.

Depart the “Queen of the Dolomites” south towards Venice. As you enter Venas di Cadore after around 25 kilometers, turn right (a hard right, easy to miss) towards Cibiana. You’ll feel like you’re dropping of the face of the earth as you descend and you’ll quickly realize you’ll be making all this up soon enough on the climb. You’ll climb for just over 10 kilometers, mostly in the shady woods with a few ramps with double-digit grades, topping out around 1536 meters at the rifugio, a great place for a caffe, or something more if you didn’t take on enough at breakfast.

A technical descent will take you past some Merckx-era graffiti before you begin the climb of Forcella Staulanza, in the same direction as the upcoming Giro d’Italia. This climb’s a bit more mellow than Cibiana in our experience, with splendid views as you climb above the tree line to the summit at 1773 meters. Enjoy pranzo at the Rifugio Staulanza and don’t miss the casuncei, pillows of pasta filled with cheese and red beets and served in a butter and poppy seed sauce – their specialty. Remember you’ll have a fun and sweeping descent to help with digestion, but it’s probably better to save the dessert to celebrate your arrival at the top of the final climb, Passo Giau.

You’ll be savoring the thought of some wonderful strudel as you grind up the steep (pretty much 10 kms at 10%) ramps of this “hard” side of the Giau with the previous passes beginning to be felt in your tired legs. Perhaps you’ll reward yourself with, in addition to the amazing views from 2236 meters (often the Cima Coppi or highest point of the Giro route) what one of our guests used to call the trifecta – strudel and a hot chocolate, washed down with a coke!

The descent from Passo Giau tends to be more of what Larry calls a “braking contest” with mostly straight ramps linked by hairpin turns rather than sweeping bends, not nearly as much fun as the Staulanza and often covered with the feces of our bovine friends who graze here in the summer months. Be careful!

Before long you’re making the small climb up to Pocol where you turn right and descend back to Cortina and your hotel. Our favorite (and one we still use) is Hotel Ambra in the center of the town. You’ll have earned a great dinner after enjoying 99 kilometers and 2643 meters of climbing and there are plenty of ristoranti and pizzerie to chose from in the lively town, home of the 1956 Olympic Winter Games."

You can also read about another "favorite loop" that begins in Arabba and passes through Cortina: Luisa's Favorite Ride: Cortina d'Ampezzo Loop

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Giro d'Italia: Cortina d'Ampezzo

This is unconfirmed: Wednesday, May 23, 2012, the stage will be from Falzes to beautiful Cortina d'Ampezzo. This could be the first of four stages in the mountains before the finish in Milano on Sunday.

The stage would have 4 passes: Valparola, Duran, Forcella Staulanza, Giau.

Previously reported unconfirmed and confirmed:
Unconfirmed: Alpe di Pampeago stage on Friday, May 25
Confirmed: Mortirolo/Stelvio summit finish on Saturday, May 26

You can read one of our reader's favorite loops starting in Cortina: Luisa's Favorite Ride: Cortina d'Ampezzo Loop
Photo: Passo Giau, courtesy of Lisa; click on photo to enlarge

Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Red Bull Road Rage: Cortina d'Ampezzo, Part II

The first downhill road race in Italy was held in Italy June 20-21st and was won by ex-professional, and 3 time Giro d'Italia participant, Mauro Bettin from Sicile (PN). He clocked a maximum speed of 98 Km/h (60.9 mph).


In second place was Frenchman Fred Mazieres followed on the podium by Luca Pais Marden. The winner of 2008 Red Bull Road Rage in Switzerland, Guillaume Gualandi, was fourth.


"Best crash" awards went to Guido Cuneo e Davide Sovilla, both who received Briko's new Ceramica Protek® cycling shorts. Briko's Ceramica Protek® side insert have ceramic fibers in the fabric that are resistant to abrasion which are claimed to cut down the risk of road rash.


The format of the race was previously described in:
http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/red-bull-road-rage-cortina-dampezzo.html


Photo: winner Mauro Bettin

Video: the course from Località Rio Gere to the centro storico of Cortina D'Ampezzo.

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

Luisa's Favorite Ride: Cortina d'Ampezzo Loop

A "Thank You" to Luisa for writing in about her favorite ride in Italy, and sharing her route. She also writes, "Do you want to ride with me in the Dolomites? Visit my Dolomites tour page at http://www.davanticycling.com/tour22009.html or email me at luisa@davanticycling.com."

My Favorite Ride in Italy

Anyone who loves riding and finding undiscovered and unknown places on a bike knows the difference between admiring scenic landscapes and approaching small, hilltop villages by bike rather than from the window of a car. However, when I went up the Dolomites passes for the first time, I felt an emotion that I never felt before. With every switchback, the road hugging the mountains, those gigantic ragged peaks looking majestic and intimidating, I felt very small, but also powerful and proud, and like I was in heaven. As I have said when describing my Dolomites tours, you feel a great sense of achievement mixed with the joy of being surrounded by such breathtaking beauty.

I know the Dolomites so well that I can be there for over a week, and never ride the same route twice. However I have my favorite loop that I would like to share with you.
This100 km (65 miles) loop starts from Arabba, in the heart of the famous four passes of the Sella Ronda, goes to Cortina d’Ampezzo though the Colle Santa Lucia and the Giau, and loops back through the passes of Falzarego, Valparola and Campolongo. Yes, the ride includes the five famous and legendary Dolomites passes, plus the visit to the famous and elegant ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

This is my favorite ride for these reasons:
1. It is the right length for a full day of riding that allows you a nice lunch break in Cortina.
2. Every pass has a little different special twist that provides plenty of variety to the ride.
3. It includes the challenge of climbing one of the steepest passes in the Dolomites, the Giau.
4. The route goes over the point where passo Falzarego and passo Valparola intersect, offering an unbelievable 360 degree view.
5. The top of passo Valparola is totally unique with its spectacular, moonlike landscape.
6. The 15 km (9 miles) descent from Passo Valparola to La Villa (the village where the famous Granfondo Dolomiti starts) is one of most beautiful descents in the Dolomites: open, scenic and winding, with views of the valley and the La Villa.

The ride starts in Arabba, and you head towards Passo Falzarego with the Passo Pordoi behind you. The terrain is beautiful and rolling, mainly downhill coasting along the valley with a lovely stream on your right. When you reach the intersection for Passo Falzarego, ride straight, veering right. The road continues for 5 km (3 miles). Take the first left turn, looking for the sign for Passo Staulanza. You may miss it if you are descending too fast. Turn left at that intersection. The road immediately begins steepens but for only about 2-2.5 km (1-1.5 miles), and then levels off. The entire climb is 3-4 km long (2-3 miles).

Then descend to Selva di Cadore. Just before you reach the small village, take a left turn towards Passo Giau and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The Giau is 10 km long (6.2 miles) and starts with a tough section of 10% grade, an indication of what lies ahead. There is a temporary reprise of 7% but after crossing a small bridge, the climb gets steep again and maintains a 9%+ grade all the way to the top. Between the switchbacks are long straight stretches of steady steep grade and the switchbacks do not provide any space for recovery. At 2.5 km (1.5 miles) from the top, ride through two well-lit tunnels with a 10% grade. After the second tunnel, you’ll see the sign “2 km” and you might think it’s almost over but with 8 km of this gradient in your legs, the last 2 km seem to go on forever. The scenery opens up to a spectacular view of rugged peaks but the 10% grade will stay with you the rest of the way. You can see the“rifugio” at the top … you keep looking at it, but it just seems to float in space always ahead of you!

Finally you reach the summit and can enjoy the long descent. Keep going straight when you see the sign for Passo Falzarego and continue straight towards Cortina d’Ampezzo. After a short visit and lunch on the main street in Cortina, you can head back in the same way you came, towards Passo Falzarego and Pecol.

Take the right turn towards Passo Falzarego. From this side Passo Falzarego is much easier and gentle. Its 16 km (10 miles) total from Cortina and the average grade is around 5%. The road goes through woods and pine trees forests until the last km when it opens up to an unforgettable view at the summit. Right at the top, after stopping to enjoying the scenery and taking pictures, take a right turn to Passo Valparola. The road gets steep, but it’s only for a little over 1 km. It then levels off and this last effort is all worth it. You feel like you are on the moon. Be careful, since it gets very windy at the top of Passo Valparola. There is a nice little “rifugio” for a quick snack and break just before the descent. Be cautious at the beginning of the descent since there are steep switchbacks, but the view is breathtaking.

Follow the signs to La Villa as you descend. At the bottom of the descent, you will reach an intersection in the village of La Villa. Take a left at this intersection and head towards Arabba and Passo Campolongo. The grade is gentle for 3.2 km (2 miles) until you reach the village of Corvara. Keep going straight following the road and you will approach Passo Campolongo. It’s only 4 km (2.5 miles) long, and the first 3 km (2 miles) have steep switchbacks above 7-8%, but they are open and reveal a beautiful view of Corvara and the entire valley. If you ride through here around 5 or 6 p.m. you may encounter a herd of cows crossing the road that will entirely stop traffic. The last km is almost flat. When you reach the top of Passo Campolongo you are basically finished. Enjoy the beautiful 4 km (2.5 miles) descent to Arabba and be ready for a well deserved beer and apple strudel.

Photos: Luisa's favorite loop, group at the start in Arabba, profile of the Passo Giau (sections in red are over 10%), riding up the Giau, Passo Falzarego at 2,105 meters, views decending towards La Villa

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com